Namibian Chamber of Environment urges government to abandon Kavango water link project

NCE chief executive Chris Brown stated in an open letter to Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare that the proposed project, based on a 1974 plan, is environmentally unsustainable and could strain relations with Botswana. Brown highlighted that the Kavango River is already exploited and that increased water abstraction by Namibia and Angola could negatively impact Botswana's Okavango Delta, especially during future droughts. He suggested that Namibia instead expand its desalination capacity with a large plant or modular plants on the coast, powered by solar energy, and potentially a small nuclear power plant to supply both Windhoek and Gaborone.

Brown also recommended attracting international climate finance and private-sector investment. The Cabinet approved the Kavango Link in February 2024 as a priority for long-term water security, with an estimated cost of N$7 billion. Kavango East governor Julius Hamunyera questioned the project's sustainability and benefits for local communities, emphasizing the need for thorough consultation with residents and neighboring countries, especially given that the river can dry up.